For the time being, Mika Zibanejad’s development is caught in a holding pattern.

The Ottawa Senators’ prospect has been out for nearly a month with a variety of non-hockey ailments — starting with the removal of four wisdom teeth, followed up by a bout of strep throat and rounding out the trifecta was dealing with a serious stomach flu.

Despite the unnatural hat trick, Zibanejad was in good spirits when reached in Binghamton, N.Y., home of the Senators’ primary affiliate.

“It’s a new team from last year and a young team. It has been a process, but I feel it’s getting better and better,” said Zibanejad, a sixth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, who appeared in seven NHL games last season before returning home to play in Sweden. “It’s good, fast-paced hockey and you just have to go with your instincts. There are only positives so far.”

The 19-year-old centre expects to return to action next weekend and will be buoyed by a visit from his parents, who arrived from Sweden on Thursday.

During his first taste of the American Hockey League, Zibanejad has one goal and seven points in 16 games.

“It’s been kind of up and down obviously,” said Zibanejad. “I want to be a leader and want to produce, be on the score sheet and help the team. You don’t want to get frustrated but it’s hard not to when the goals and the points are not coming in.

“Whether it’s on-ice or off-ice, I’m trying to do the best I can. I have to stick to it and work hard, that’s all that matters for me right now. Do everything I can every time I come to the rink.”

Luke Richardson, head coach of the B-Sens, believes it’s only a matter of time before Zibanejad hits his stride again.

“He’s a big, strong, young athlete and his biggest strengths are his skating and shooting the puck,” said Richardson. “We’ve asked him to make sure he plays a real good, complete, defensive game because he has the offensive talent. That will show itself, as he gets used to playing the North American style — in straight lines, using his body.

“Right off the hop, he was probably our best forward during the first couple of weeks. He was dangerous, probably had a couple scoring chances each night. We had him killing penalties, on the power play and he’s pretty much been our top face-off percentage guy all year.”

Although he has come to terms with the Senators’ decision not to release him to play for Sweden at the world junior hockey championship in Ufa, Russia, there’s no doubt Zibanejad wanted to join his countrymen for the title defence.

“I’ve been playing with those guys for three or four years now and this is my last year to play world juniors. Obviously, it would be nice to kind of finish it off. But I feel comfortable with and respect the decision and will focus on being here,” said Zibanejad, who scored the overtime winner last January as Sweden clinched its first gold medal. “To break the 31-year spell was really nice. The people in Sweden were so excited for us. It was a lot of fun and scoring that goal was a career highlight for me, for sure.”

CAPTAINS NAMED

Trent Whitfield of the Providence Bruins and Quintin Laing of the Abbotsford Heat will be the playing captains for the 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic in Providence, R.I. next month.

The captains are selected by league president Dave Andrews, recognizing service and leadership to the AHL.

Whitfield, a 35-year-old from Alameda, Sask., is making his second all-star appearance during his 15-year pro career, while Laing, a 33-year-old from Harris, Sask., will be playing in his first.

Power rankings for seven Canadian farm teams - going into Friday’s games

1. (1) Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames) 15-6-3-3, 36 points

G Barry Brust has only given up 13 goals in 11 appearances, with a 8-2-1 record, 1.16 GAA, 3 SO

2. (2) Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators) 15-6-1-1, 32 points

Backup G Ben Bishop has won his past six starts, posted a 2.51 GAA

3. (3) Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs) 15-9-1-1, 32 points

G Ben Scrivens has won four of his past five starts, has nine wins, 2.50 GAA

4. (4) Oklahoma City Barons (Edmonton Oilers) 13-9-1-3, 30 points

RW Jordan Eberle has taken over the goals lead with 19, tied for league lead in points with 38

5. (5) Chicago Wolves (Vancouver Canucks) 13-9-2-1, 29 points

G Matt Climie has posted four consecutive wins, allowing only six goals in the process

6. (6) St. John’s IceCaps (Winnipeg Jets) 13-15-0-1, 27 points

Second-year D Zach Redmond leads club with eight goals, second in points with 15 in 29 GP

Number of consecutive sellouts at Mile Once Centre for the St. John’s IceCaps, who have played before a full house in every home game since becoming the primary affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets last season. The mark ties the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the second-longest sellout streak in AHL history. The IceCaps are currently on an eight-game road trip and won’t take over sole possession of second spot until Jan. 4 when they play host to the Manchester Monarchs. The Penguins also hold the league record of 90 straight sellouts, set between March of 2002 and October of 2004.

The fifth overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft has restored his offensive confidence during the lockout. Heading into the weekend, the Swiss left-winger is averaging a point per game, with 13 goals and 27 points in 27 games, numbers that mirror the type of production he put up in the Western Hockey League with the Portland Winterhawks. Last season, Niederreiter had little puck luck as he was limited to just one goal in 55 games with the New York Islanders, missing significant time with a groin injury and later, a concussion.

Senators prospect Zibanejad close to retuning to Binghamton

For the time being, Mika Zibanejad’s development is caught in a holding pattern.

The Ottawa Senators’ prospect has been out for nearly a month with a variety of non-hockey ailments — starting with the removal of four wisdom teeth, followed up by a bout of strep throat and rounding out the trifecta was dealing with a serious stomach flu.

Despite the unnatural hat trick, Zibanejad was in good spirits when reached in Binghamton, N.Y., home of the Senators’ primary affiliate.

“It’s a new team from last year and a young team. It has been a process, but I feel it’s getting better and better,” said Zibanejad, a sixth overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, who appeared in seven NHL games last season before returning home to play in Sweden. “It’s good, fast-paced hockey and you just have to go with your instincts. There are only positives so far.”